ABSTRACT
Preterm neonates have an increased vulnerability of skin injuries and intolerance to external sources of skin injury due to the nature of the underdeveloped skin structures. The stratum corneum is thin in preterm neonates, having only 2–3 layers of cells, compared with 10–20 layers of cells in full-term infants and adults. Skin barrier function is altered when the pH shifts from acidic to neutral, resulting in increase in the total number of bacteria on skin surface or conditions such as inflammatory dermatoses. The clinical implications that stem from the variances in anatomy and physiology increase the risk of skin injury in young children. Injury can occur from exposure to pressure, shear, burns, and chemicals. The fragility of the skin and the increased pressure injury risk is even more concerning when the skin is damaged. Medical adhesive-related skin injury is chemical or mechanical injury to the skin from dressings or tape.
